Measuring What Matters
In today’s business world, success is often measured by quarterly earnings, shareholder returns, and market dominance. These are all standard key performance indicators (KPIs) in business practice. But for Christian leaders seeking to integrate faith and work, biblical wisdom offers a radically different framework—one that elevates eternal purpose over temporary gain and redefines which metrics truly matter.
Profit Is a Tool, Not the Goal
One story that has always stood out to me in my research is the story of Marion Wade, founder of ServiceMaster. After surviving a near-fatal explosion while developing a cleaning product, Wade spent time in a hospital bed reflecting on Scripture. He was struck by Joshua 1:8, which promises prosperity and success to those who meditate on and live out God’s Word. Wade began to see his business not merely as a job, but as a calling—a ministry through which he could honor God and serve others.
This perspective shaped ServiceMaster’s corporate ethos for decades. Wade and his successors, including Ken Hansen and Bill Pollard, built a company that prioritized servant leadership, employee development, and building a values-driven community. Profit was essential, but it was never the end goal. Instead, it was a tool—a means to honor God and invest in people.
The Wisdom of Proverbs 31
Proverbs 31:10-31 gives us a great example of wise leadership in business. The noble woman described in this passage runs her business with skill and care. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable, keeps her lamp burning through the night, and opens her hands to the poor. Her success is not measured solely by financial gain but by her —it’s about how she manages resources, stays prepared, and shows compassion.
She’s essentially running a textile company in the Ancient Near East that is sourcing raw materials (wool and flax), manufacturing clothing and garments, and selling them in the marketplace. She does all of this profitably with the capacity to serve her servants (employees) and community (holding her hands to the poor and the needy).
Her actions mirror the three parables in Matthew 25: the wise bridesmaids who kept their lamps lit, the faithful stewards who multiplied their talents, and the righteous sheep who cared for the poor and the needy (the least of these). Those who cared for the poor and the needy in Matthew 25 went beyond being called good and faithful servants to inherit the kingdom of Heaven! Together, these stories illustrate a holistic view of wisdom in business leadership—one that includes profitability, preparedness, and, most importantly, compassion for those in need.
Rethinking What We Measure
Christian leaders are often taught to pursue ethical business practices—honesty, integrity, and fairness. But biblical wisdom calls for more. In Mark 10, the rich young ruler claims to have kept all the commandments, yet Jesus tells him he lacks one thing: the ability to give away his wealth and follow Christ. The ruler’s failure wasn’t in ethics—it was in his inability to love God with his “meod,” a Hebrew word meaning strength, might, and abundance. He followed all the laws and commandments, but could not follow the greatest one:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength (meod).” Deuteronomy 6:5
So the real question is: Are we using our resources to love God and serve others? Are we measuring things like employee well-being, community impact, and spiritual growth—or just reporting, measuring, and chasing profit?
People Over Profit
ServiceMaster’s leaders believed in a stakeholder approach—thinking about employees, customers, suppliers, and the community, not just shareholders. Bill Pollard, influenced by Peter Drucker, believed businesses have a “soul” and that leadership is about serving people. Drucker said companies succeed when they meet real needs, and leaders have a moral duty to those they lead.
ServiceMaster operated in industries like cleaning, maintenance, pest control, and lawn care – jobs that are often looked down on or stigmatized. The company intentionally built a culture that recognized and honored the inherent dignity of all work and workers. This was a unique development for a global, publicly traded company.
ServiceMaster invested in:
- Training and development programs for all workers (not just managers and leaders).
- Opportunities for the advancement of all workers. For example, an employee could move from housekeeping into management with support from the company to pursue continuing education.
Key KPIs for a company focused on both people and profit will include the monthly, quarterly, and annual earnings, but may also include:
- Employee engagement & satisfaction – how likely employees are to recommend their workplace is a strong indicator of morale.
- Absenteeism & turnover rates – losing key talent can signal issues with culture
- Development & support – training hours/employee, succession planning participation
- Customer retention rate – customers (who are people too), will be more likely to be loyal if they are satisfied with the products and transactions they experience with your company.
- Supplier Satisfaction – suppliers (yep, they are people too) are also an important measure of how a company treats others. Measures like the Supplier Net Promoter Score (sNPS) will capture how likely suppliers are to recommend working with your company. Another great supplier metric is On-Time Payment Rate – this reflects how reliably you pay according to your agreed-upon terms.
This lines up with biblical wisdom: people matter because they’re made in God’s image. Serving them isn’t just good business, it’s the right thing to do.
Wisdom Works
Research backs this up. Companies that focus on people and purpose often do better financially than those that only chase profit. They have more loyal employees, stronger reputations, and better long-term results.
So biblical wisdom isn’t just spiritually meaningful—it’s also smart business. When leaders focus on relationships, values, and service, their organizations thrive.
The Bigger Picture
In the end, Christian leadership is about more than making money. It’s about honoring God, loving people, and making a lasting impact. Profit is part of the picture, but it’s not the whole story. Like the stewards in Matthew 25, we’re called to use what we’ve been given to serve others and build God’s kingdom.
Whether it’s the woman in Proverbs 31, the leaders at ServiceMaster, or the faithful stewards in Scripture, the message is clear: success isn’t just about numbers—it’s about purpose. Let’s start measuring what really matters.
Hannah Stolze is an author, teacher, speaker, and academic with a focus on transformative and sustainable supply chain management and the intersection of faith and business strategy. Stolze is the inaugural William E. Crenshaw Endowed Chair in Supply Chain Management at Baylor University’s nationally-ranked Hankamer School of Business. She also worked in international business and was a 2020 Fulbright Scholar in Indonesia. Stolze published the article “Sustainable SCM and Bad Press” in the Harvard Business Review. She is the author of the book, “Wisdom Based Business: Applying Biblical Principles and Evidence-Based Research for a Purposeful and Profitable Business.
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